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When Was the Last Time YOU Updated Your Photo on Your Business Card?

By
Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart

 

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU UPDATED YOUR PHOTO?

Seriously Folks, when we actually meet face to face, and I do not even recognize you, have you ever considered I may find an unexpected excuse even if it is a lie to turn and run the other way.

Singles doing dating on line, that must happen often, would you think? And have you ever noticed the personality you convey, the mindset you live with, the energy level you experience can easily assist you in being 10 years older or 10 years younger than you actually are. Would you agree?

Hundreds of agents I have had cross sales with and even hundreds more who I have not, I still recall one incident about five to seven years ago that stands out, this quite attractive lady you could almost even say foxy if that word is acceptable with you, somewhere around 28 to 32 years of age I would predict from looking at the photo she had provided me.

For some reason it was appropriate for her and I to meet in the parking lot on the west side of Phoenix to exchange some of the accepted paper work on the transaction we had worked on for a couple of days. And there she stood, while I kept looking around for her.

I said to myself: "Self OMG she must be 10 years older than you."

Whether it is on face book, your business card, your photo in the MLS if there are photos there, you name the other sources because you know them better than I because, as time has passed, I have more focus on listing and selling houses than maintaining 100% savageness on technology.

You see I set the timer to 12 minutes when I get on face book each day, because researching FSBO's and expired's, maintaining current knowledge on the real estate market, on the phone and knocking on the doors is what I have done for a living for 36 years, OMG it was 35 years just four months ago, have you ever heard the term, TIME FLIES? IT REALLY DOES! :)

Now the photo update we talked about, how about a goal of prior to Christmas, you have three weeks.

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

No photo on my card. I see more and more cards do not have pictures any longer in my area. 

Nov 29, 2015 11:56 PM
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

Oh crap.  I know I need to update my ten year old photo.  I always make fun of it and say there's a slight resemblance to what I look like now, but people insist I still look like it.  I think they're lovely liars. 

Nov 29, 2015 11:59 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Even people who use a recent shot - it's like the virtual tours on some homes - Photshopped beyond recognition!

Nov 30, 2015 01:40 AM
IRMA Beltran
Century 21 M & M and Associates-Turlock homes Real Estate - Turlock, CA
Your Real Estate Agent 4 Life Always there 4 You!

We get so involved in our business we forget about out photo. That's usually the las thing in our mind. We forget we change on a daily basis. 

Have a Wonderful Blessed Day!!!

Nov 30, 2015 02:26 AM
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

I update things as needed, the current photo is recent, and I'll probably get another one done before the next decade or so passes.

Nov 30, 2015 03:30 AM
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

No photo on my card.  I see about 50/50 for agents cards.  Around 90% on affiliates and service providers cards though.  I think the trend is to move away from the picture.

Nov 30, 2015 04:53 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Mine is current, although I would much rather use the one from 10-15 years ago. You have an excellent point, though, and that is setting a timer for social media. We waste sooooo much time on SM when we could take a page from your journal and call FSBO's, expireds, or do some other real estate research.

Nov 30, 2015 05:45 AM
Rich Jacobson
Fathom Realty West Sound - Poulsbo, WA
Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Broker

Thank God we've seen a shift in our industry from 'Agent Centric' to 'Client Centric.' Hopefully the days of glamour shots is finally over!

Nov 30, 2015 07:08 AM
David Alan Baker | Laveen & South Phoenix Realtor
Keller Williams Realty Phoenix - Laveen, AZ
Your local Expert

Actually been a couple years, and I do, unfortunately have less hair now than I did then.

Nov 30, 2015 08:19 AM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

I came across an agent the other who grew a full beard but is still using his clean shaven face photo.  I didn't recognize him.

Nov 30, 2015 10:26 AM
Dinah Stallworth-Lewis
Priority Real Estate LLC - 318.332.8281 - Natchitoches, LA
NATCHITOCHES, LA HOMES FOR SALE

Dan,

I talked to a photograher a few weeks ago about doing more photos.  I agree, it is good to have a current photo on our business cards.

Nov 30, 2015 10:36 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

This is me.  I look like this, except I need a haircot, but that is only an inch or so difference...pretty close.

Nov 30, 2015 11:40 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

"Branding" is so important.  You need the Buying/Selling Public to recognize your photo as the "Go-To Real Estate Broker".   Nonetheless, that photo needs to be updated every few years, at the least.

Nov 30, 2015 12:07 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Dan Dee McGinnis, DTM, NADOTA recently I met Hannah Williams in Philadelphia - and she could recognize me from my ActiveRain profile picture.

Hmmm I can survive....lol!

Nov 30, 2015 01:46 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I do not put my photo on my business card or any other form of marketing.  The only place anyone might find my photo is online.  Nothing printed ... ever.  I do update my photo every 2-3 years.

Dec 01, 2015 02:09 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

It has been a decade or more since I had a picture on my card. Besides  cards being less relevant it is to me a waste of good space. If you do have a picture you should update every three years at the latest.

Dec 01, 2015 05:02 AM
Bill Reddington
Re/max By The Sea - Destin, FL
Destin Florida Real Estate

Know lots of agent with a 10 year old photo on their cards. Mine is about 2 years old. Think I will keep it for awhile. Don't want to scare anybody with what the future might bring.

Dec 01, 2015 06:42 AM
RealtyTech Inc.
Real Estate Technology and Marketing - Thousand Oaks, CA
Premium Websites/IDX/Marketing for Realtors

That is a funny anacdote Dan! I can only imagine how confusing and awkward it can be for clients meeting an agent who does not look like the person on the business card. 

Dec 01, 2015 08:42 AM
Craig Cooper
Chase International Real Estate - Tahoe City, CA
Creating-Preserving-Growing Wealth in Real Estate

Thank you Dan for that gentle nudge to far too many agents who can't be recognized in their own office. Nothing beats having to say "who is that?"

Dec 02, 2015 10:55 AM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

I can't sneak anywhere - someone always recognizes me - lol.

I am 63, but in this pic I look only 62.  It was taken about 3 years ago, but I was very tired and looked older that day.

Excellent post, Dan, and I love how you write!

Dec 08, 2015 04:03 PM